After my soldiers came home, I decided to join the Operation Top Knot team on Soldiers' Angels. With this team, you check out the monthly list and send gifts to expecting military families or families with young children. It's an absolute BLAST! You can send as much or as little as you want. It can be handmade or store bought. It's a monthly baby shower. You should send only new items, but you may be able to contact the family directly or through OTK and ask about giving them hand-me-downs. There may even be a family in your area!

I loved doing Operation Top Knot. You get to buy some adorable stuff like this:

Obviously I chose today of all days to share Soldiers' Angels. I don't support the war, but I do support our troops. They're doing something I could never do.

I think in honor of Patriots Day, we should do something to commemorate service. It doesn't have to be military service. Today is a great day to help out one another. Here are a few easy feel good tips for today:
- Donate your old towels and bedsheets to an animal shelter.
- Take your outgrown clothing and jackets to a homeless shelter.
- Clean out your pantry and take non-perishable/non-expired food to a food bank in your area.
- Donate any unused toiletries (like all those hotel ones you grab but don't really want) to a VA program to be handed out to homeless veterans.
- Pack a small brown bag lunch and a bottle of water and give it to the first homeless person you see. Write a positive note and include it in the bag.
- Pick up trash while your kids play at the playground. It doesn't take long and makes for a nicer place to be.
- Send a positive anonymous card to someone you know is struggling.
- If you're at a restaurant or coffee shop and see a military or first responder (police, firefighter, paramedic etc), offer to pay for their item. It's the least you can do for someone who disregards their own safety to help others.
- Share something homemade with your neighbors.
- With Halloween coming up, consider donating your kids' outgrown costumes to a local women's shelter. The children would absolutely love it!

But most importantly, remember that today is only one day. You should strive to make a small change in the world every day you wake up on it. It isn't much. Hold the door open for someone. Pick up that piece of trash as you walk up to the store. Give someone a smile. Throw a dollar in the charity jar by a checkout lane. I fully believe that if we helped one another up instead of keeping each other down, we would be in a better place in life.

Have a great day everyone! I'm working on a project today, and I hope to have it posted tomorrow! I also intend on dropping off some clothes and toiletries at our local women's shelter.

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